More MS news articles for February 2001

Health information — Judging what's reliable

http://www.mayohealth.org/home?id=HO00078

[This is a bit old now, but I missed it first time around and it still applies]

If you're going to surf the Web for health information, you have to be a skeptic. MayoClinic.com offers these tips for gauging the reliability of online health information:

Don't believe everything you read — Anyone who has the necessary hardware and software can publish a health information Web page or offer medical advice in an online chat forum. And the Internet has a way of making all health information appear equal.

MayoClinic.com

If you come across a suspected fraudulent health claim on the Internet, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Web has other dangers beyond medical quackery. A search under depression may lead you to Web sites that list ways of committing suicide. Some sites selling herbal remedies suggest throwing out all prescription medications, which, for some conditions such as high blood pressure, may be life-threatening advice. Practice good judgment.

Stick to reliable sources — Before delving too far into any health Web site, determine who's sponsoring the site. If the source is an individual, ask yourself whether he or she is qualified to give medical advice. Ask other questions, such as: Are there any hidden agendas? Is the site trying to sell you something? Is the information reviewed by health care professionals? How often is material updated? Does the site adhere to the HON code for publishing credible health information online?

Seek out the Web sites of respected publications, major medical centers and organizations, government agencies and medical professionals. Think of sources you would turn to if you were at a library researching a health topic. If you're unsure where to begin on the Web, ask a health care professional or a reference librarian for suggestions.

Read medical studies carefully — You come across so many medical studies online, sometimes with conflicting conclusions, that it's hard to know what to believe. But before you take any research finding as the truth, consider whether the study is scientifically sound. Does it come from a reputable source? Did the study involve more than a handful of people, and was there a control group? Do the results show a cause-and-effect relationship or an association between two factors? Has the work been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal?

MayoClinic.com asked Marcia Angell, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, for tips for health-conscious consumers surfing the Web. Her main advice: Don't change your lifestyle according to the results of one study. "I always say there is no such thing as a 'medical breakthrough.' Medical research works slowly and incrementally, like a glacier," notes Dr. Angell. If a study makes you question your treatment, medication or diet, ask you doctor whether the results apply to you.

Ask for your doctor's opinion — If you have questions about a piece of health information, you may want to print it out and take it to your doctor. The doctor (who may not be familiar with a particular Web site) may be able to give you an answer. Depending on the circumstances, it's probably unrealistic to expect your doctor to sift through reams of printouts. It will help to focus on the specific questions that concern you most.

And although the Web can make you a better-informed consumer, it can't replace the individualized care of a doctor. "The Web can provide a way to educate consumers about health and to link them to support groups, but it should not take the place of the care of a physician," says Dr. Edwards. "It's one thing to visit a health Web site for basic information on a condition such as diabetes mellitus. It's another to provide a Web site with a list of your symptoms (which may or may not be kept private) and expect an e-mail back that says, 'You have diabetes mellitus.'"

Health Web sites — Who should you trust?

November 11, 1999